Combined dining and other table for playing games.



PATENTED DEG. 15, 1903.

G. SPALT. COMBINED DINING AND OTHER TABLE FOR PLAYING GAMES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1902.

No MODEL.`

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UNT E Patented December 15, 1903.

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GEORGE SPALT, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,097 dated December 15. 1903- Application filed January 22, 1902. Serial No. 90.792. (No model.)

for playing billiards, pool, or other games em-y ploying balls; and it consists of the novel features of parts, construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter' described, and pointed out in the claims.

The objects and advantages of this invention will be fully understood by the following description and claims When takenin connection with the drawings, in one sheet, in which- Figure l is a plan of a table embodying this invention with game-playing table topvside up. Fig. 2 is an elevation, part in section and illustrating devices and parts for reversal of the horizontal table-top surfaces at pleasure and for securing the table-top as adjusted from being accidentally changed. Fig. 3 is a section taken at line 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of the preferred form of clamping mechanism employed, and Fig. 5 is a section taken at line 2 in Fig. 2 and illustrating the same clamping mechanism.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, A is a reversible table-top body made of length and width preferred or adapted to give to a horizontal table-top surface thereof suitable proportions as to width and length for playing billiards, pool, or other games in which aseries of balls is a factor. In this description for convenience of expression I call horizontal floor A of the reversible table-top body A the billiardtable top and the horizontal floor A2 of said body the dining-table top.

B B are vertical frames from which the ta.-

tween each en d portion of said body A and an end frame B. These vertical end frames may be of any suitable form of construction ad apted to stiffen them and give them strength and a pleasing appearance. The drawings show these end frames to be of similar construction and comprising each the horizontal end sill B' and legs B2 B2, which are suitably joined to said sill, and the supplemental outer sill B3 also having the outer ends thereof suitably joined to the upper portions b b of the said legs and suitably secured to the adjacent end sill B by glue or screws, or both combined. This supplemental sill B2 serves the purpose of a reinforcing-piece to sill B', to which it is secured, and also serves as a finish-rail to the frame. B4 is a flat horizontal piece secured to` the upper edges of sills'B and Bs by glue or screws, or both, as may be preferred. These vertical end frames B B are yoked together by a suitable connecting device O', made with any preferred form of constructionV and strongly connected with lower portions Z9 b of the legs of said frame, and the legs B2 B2 of each frame may have their lower ends held from spreading by means of a suitable tie-bar b2, Fig. 3.

The reversible table-top body A is supported from its trunnions C O (indicated by dotted lines in FigJl and shown by full lines in Fig. 2') and is of such construction as to pre vent a sagging of said body or its getting out of shape by warpage of the same. I at the present time prefer to construct the said top body with the two horizontal floors A and A2, (shown in Figs. 2 and 3,) end bars A3, of suitable stiff hard wood, to which the inaterialfcf said two floors A'- A2 are rigidly secured by means of glue or screws or bolts, as may be preferred. These end bars A8 have firmly secured to their outer sides the supplemental Vouter bars A4, having their outer surfaces a at right angles to the surfaces ct' d2, respectively, of doors A A2, while the lower edges a3 of the said supplemental bars A2 are on a plane with surface a2 of the dining-table top A2. These supplemental bars A4, together with bars A5, provided, respectively, at the sides of this table-top body, are made with a width which may extend a portion, as a4, thereof to` a suitable distance above the plane of surface a of billiard-table top A', so as to provide all around aguard of sufficient height above surface a' of the same for preventing balls from leaving said surface.

the inner side of portions a4 of the end bars ICO Secured to a are suitablestrip-form cushions D, asare commonly employed in billiard-tables. VIn some cases this reversible table-top body is stiiened by means of several bars'A6 of width yof end bars A3, interposedwbetween v,floorsA and A2 and to which the latter may be rigidly 'i secured by gluing or screws, or both, while siderbearing-pieces A7 are secured to bars .A5 and have secured to them the lengthwise margin edges of the two iioors A A2, as shown in Fig. 3. The longitudinal margin of the dining-table licor A2 is finished with a mold edge corresponding with the mold edge 540i' end.

piece B4, so that there will be a correspondyence of finish of Aall the side and end edges of vthe table when the table-top floor A2 is up and the Iioor A for billiard-table is down.

The trunnions C C may be of any suitable form of construction, and preferably consists of steel spindles c c, suitably secured in end bars A8 and, A4 of the table-top body A at a 'point about midway between the ends of said `bars,as shown in Fig. 3, and work in suitable bearings securely fastened in :place iny ytion (indicated by arrowsl and 2 Ain Fig. 3)

thesurface a2 of loorA2. 4will heup-and on a plane with the top surfaces of horizontal flat pieces B4c' fsaid` end frames, with the mold edges b4 of .said pieces registeringwith the mold edges of dining-floor top A2, when the .billiard-licor top A will be down, and the table may be-used for a dining-table. A reversal of this table-toplbody A will be readily made that the table may serve as a billiard-` table or pool-table by turning said body in either direction for carrying the billiard-top iioor A up, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when the table-.top body A will have the major portion of depth above the plane of the upper surfacesnof horizontal fiat pieces B4 of the end frames B B, as shown.

In thisinvention thev table-top body A, be-

. ing suspendedA from h trunnions between the ,fend frames B B and adapted to have its two:7 floors AV and A2 reversible at pleasure in re.y lation to the said end frames, is made to be a dual, table-top, presenting two distinct and. separate floors, each for a different use and purpose.y One, Af, being for use for'playingf lbilliardsor other games by balls and cues,`is

made to haveits licor-surface d on whichf theballs roll up on a plane above the upper; surfacevof the horizontal flat pieces B4 of the;

end frames, so as to be atproper height, while@ lthe otheroor, A2, being for use as a dining-i tabletop, is v.made ,tol have its floor-surface at ena plane with the top surfaces ofsaid `fiatf pieces B4of, the endxframe, .while the othen ioor, A', with its side and end guards, cushanisms willsufee for the others.

vend sill tight against the outer surfaces' of the respective end bars A4 of the table-'top body A, as clearly seen in Fig. 5. Although any suitable device adapted to draw the upper ends of the end surfaces tight against the .ends of the top body A may be employed, yet I at present prefer to employ a holding and clamping mechanism,vwhi ch isshown in Figs. 1,7;4, `and 5, one fat each corner of this table. A description of one of these mechferred mechanism comprises in one ypart the catch E, having a slightly inwardly inclined holding-,surface e and integral with a suit` This pre-V able base-plate e', which is secured to the sidebar A5 at a proper place thereon, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5; another part, the catchy-,engaging link E2, provided with a suitable slot e2, adapted to receive catch E and is provided'with a suitable pivot-ear e2; another part, the draw-rod E2, hinged to ears e2 of link E', another part, the wedging device E2, mounted on the outer end portion of drawrod E2 and provided with one or more inclines e4, Aso as to be freeyto be moved on the sametoward and from the side bar A5, but held from revolving in either direction, an-

`otherpart consisting of a revolving wedging device E4, provided with one or more inclines e5 forcoaction with a similar number of the inclines e4 ofthe wedging deviceE3, and also providedwith a suitablevlever-form` handle c6 for operating this revolving wedging de- .vice,.and`another part, a suitable screwthreaded set-nut E6, which may be,` moved in either direction on thef outer end portion of wedging device E4. By this above-described clamping mechanism, one "atveach corner of the table and relativelyat theupper portions of the respective legs B2, this dual table-top may be rigidly Isecured ,from being accidenftally movedin either directiony from the order vtweenthe respective ends'of said dual tabletopand `the verticalend frames, and at aline coincident with the line of middle of width of IOO IlO

.said draw-frodfE .for setting the revolving said table-top and width of said end frames whereby said table-top may at pleasure have its dining-table top, and billiard-table top turned at pleasure, uppermost, and mechanism adapted to clamp the table, comprising a catch secured to the table, a coacting catch supported by the end frame, a draw-rod car-` rying said coacting catch, and a revoluble handle adapted to operate said draw-rod to secure coaction of said catches.

2. In a combined dining and another table for playing games,the combination with a dual table-top comprising a floor for service as a top of a dining-table and an opposite side door for service as a top of a billiard-table,two supporting-frames comprising each two vertical legs and a horizontal upper end piece which is secured by its ends, to the upper end portions of said legs, pieces securing the lower end portions of the legs of each frame to the correspending lower end portions of the legs of the other frame, and trunnions between each vof said vertical frames and the adjoining ends of said dual tabletop,and havingtheir axial lines coincident with each other and with the line of middle of width of said table-top, of clamping mechanisms at each corner of the table, each'of said mechanisms being formed by the combination with a catch secured to the end portion of the side bars, a coacting catch adapted to engage with the said catch, drawrod jointed on the coacting catch, wedging device movable lengthwise on said draw-rod,

revolving wedge device provided with a handle adapted to revolve the same and a set-nut screwing on the outer end of the said drawlod, as and for the purpose set forth..

3. In a combined dining and another table, the combination with two vertical end frames, a dual tableftop, trunnions supporting the said table-top from a point coincident with the line of width of said table-top, and middle of width of said frames and connectingpieces holding with lower portions of each of said frames, of mechanism at each corner of the table, comprising a catch, a link provided with a slot adapted to engage with said catch, a draw-rod pivoted to the said link, a wedging device provided with a series of inclines mounted on the outer end portions of said draw-rod and movable in direction. of the length of the same, a revoluble'wedging device provided with inclines adapted to coperate with the inclines on the draw-rod and mounted on the said draw-rod outside said I 

